Frans H. Said, St Paul's Bay
How Libya can help over migration
This is a direct plea to Malta's friends and brothers in Libya.
There has always been a certain affinity between the two countries. The reason why Libya is not cooperating in the problem of illegal immigrants is political but Libya should at the same time appreciate the great impact that the thousands of African illegal immigrants are having on tiny Malta.
We the ordinary citizens support these immigrants through our taxation and hard work. The cost of these immigrants starts from the patrols, with the ever-increasing cost of fuel. The costs than become a recurring expenditure with the provision of security, accommodation, food and medical care. All this is putting a huge pressure on each and every Maltese citizen.
Therefore, while Libya has its reasons why not to stop the immigrants from not leaving its shores, it can help Malta financially. Such help could be either direct or indirect through the provision of cheap/free oil on a per capita basis. I suggest an average of five barrels of crude oil free of charge for each immigrant on a weekly basis. This should at least cover the direct and indirect expenses involved. Such a contribution will be very small from the Libyan aspect but surely it will alleviate the burden on the Maltese. Alternatively, Libya can pay the full inclusive costs involved for the sojourn of the African immigrants in Malta.
I hope that the Libyan Ambassador will pass this plea on to the proper authorities and issue a declaration in the near future.
27 Comments
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a.cassar
Jul 30th 2008, 16:29
I read your reply very, very slowly but I still couldn't find a reply to my question. Why are the european nations not falling over each other to take our UNWANTED, ILLEGAL migrants which they want so much?! remember, we are giving them away for free.
M.Mercieca
Jul 29th 2008, 23:11
Dear a.cassar
Can you please re-read my post slowly?
Can you also click the link I posted down here and check about Blue-Card system and Europe population deficit? This is the official EU site by the way
Answer to your question:
Politicians understand that racism is spreading among European citizens. While the latter are not fully aware of the real threat of population deficit, no politician, in Malta or in Europe is going to speak facts about immigrant’s issues (not to lose VOTES). But you may on the other hand see hopeful politicians that are hungry for power use the immigrant’s card to scaremonger peoples (VOTERS).
Think about this chain please:
If Italy for examples ask Malta to stop irregular Immigrant, and then Malta asks Libya to stop illegal immigrants. Now-if Italy and the whole EU fail Malta in more than one occasion, why do we expect Libya to serve a safety-valve to Europe while Libya knows that Europe needs millions of immigrants?
Don’t you think the whole EU with the very much advanced technology could intercept any boat at the Mediterranean if they wanted to?
a.cassar
Jul 28th 2008, 23:22
@M.Mercieca
That's incredible. so now we are to train africans in malta so that they can go and work in europe! an ETC already exists and Maltese are being trained and if Europe needs skilled workers it should train them itself..no need for further comment on this one. you didn't answer my question which was. why aren't EU countries jumping over each other to get to the UNWANTED ILLEGAL migrants in Malta if they need them so much?
Just because Libya is a sovereign country doesn't mean it can put another sovereign country in jeopardy because of its actions. malta had nothing to do with africa's colonialisation. just because malta happens to be in the way is no excuse for libya to remain inactive (unless it is active in the wrong sense that is!) The problem is LIBYA. it must be made to respect other countries especially neighboring countries which until a few decades ago it considered friends and 'brothers' but that was only for convenience' sake.Finally That is why we should do all in our power to stop them from making these journeys because they are human beings.
M. Mercieca
Jul 28th 2008, 21:36
My suggestion:
The EU should provide adequate finance to the EU countries (Mainly southern Countries) not only to feed or shelter the immigrant but also to create a training center ETC-style. This center is to provide training to semi and or un-skilled immigrants and may also provide opportunities for some unemployed Maltese. In my humble opinion this is how to turn a ‘problem’ into a good opportunity I guess this is where the EU politicians are heading anyway.
M. Mercieca
Jul 28th 2008, 21:32
Colonial period by Europe to almost all African countries (This is how Africa was ripped-off and become poor and African leaving homes) please check history
• Malta is EU member states (Means the EU must help Malta)
And Libya too is a sovereign country (Means the EU can not impose on Libya what to do in a problem originally created by Europe)
• we can not shift Malta’s location (Means Immigrants must pass via Malta to reach Europe)
• we have just had general election last March. (Means no body blame a government we have just elected)
• We are talking about human beings not objects (Means we should abide with EU regulation as far as Human rights are concerned)
• European population deficit that must be filled by imported man power from Africa, India, and China (This is the main point of any discussion) please read about the issue from EU information source
www.euobserver.com/9/26239/?rk=1
I hope I managed to explain my self better. Thank you
a.cassar
Jul 28th 2008, 16:33
@ M.mercieca. you are always going on about europe needing millions of african waorkers. why do They have to pass through Malta? I don't see european countries jumping over each other to take our UNWANTED ILLEGAL migrants! why is that? what do we have to do with the colonial period in africa?! What do the general elections have to do with the whole thing?
Yes, the influx of migrants from totally different cultures will eventually influence our culture. and yes they are invaders because they are entering our territory ILLEGALLY. and these words are not included recklessly either. a solution has been suggested. we should tow them back to within 5 miles of libyan territorial waters and point them south. after providing them with all assistance of course before you start calling us heartless. finally, what does being sovreign mean? it means you have rights and DUTIES towards other coutries especially neighboring 'friendly' ones. that's where the problem lies, in Libya.
M. Mercieca
Jul 28th 2008, 00:48
@ a. Cassar
Far from closing the doors for discussions. My concern is that, before we give an opinion, we first have to understand facts surrounding this thorny issue.We can not simply ignore history and keep asking why immigrants are coming to Europe/Malta
Facts:
• Colonial period by Europe to almost all African countries
• Malta is EU member states, and Libya too is a sovereign country
• We can not shift Malta’s location
• We have just had general election last March.
• We are talking about human beings not objects
• European population deficit that must be filled by imported man power from Africa, India, and China (This is the main point of any discussion)
Practically every time the irregular immigrants are mentioned you will read ‘fuel-adding’ and ‘scaremongering sentences’ such as; irregular immigrants will change our culture-invaders-they are taking our limited resources- they are taking tax payers money- irregular immigrants forms a threat to our children and families! Why do we recklessly add any word before or after the word immigrants?
Above all, can any body provide a suggestion or a solution? NO. We are only good to complain and prejudice.
a.cassar
Jul 27th 2008, 15:03
@ graham crocker and what do you expect malta to do? The illegal immigrants are entering Libya from its Soulthern borders not from the Mediterranean. Furthermore, is libya so helpless as to need malta's help in patrolling its borders? what country has ever sought malta's help ewhere its security is concerned. rather it has been the otherway round. remember the pact we signed with libya to protect our neutrality? some protectress she turned out to be! once the migrants find themselves in libya they are all employed and stay there for a number of years saving for their trip north. they don't seem to need help then.
Alex Ellul
Jul 27th 2008, 10:55
@Crocker: Libya has more then enough oil money to help itself: Your suggestion to help libya in migration control is analogous to helping the sicilian mafia to control crime.
Denis Catania
Jul 27th 2008, 05:06
@M Mercieca Why do you people always use the race card. It's a population issue not a race issue. How many of these poor black immigrants, have you taken in your home, for a good night sleep? How many of these kids have you taken to a beach, and for some ice cream? If not. Why not? Is it because they are black? Answer please?
Graham Crocker
Jul 27th 2008, 00:21
The Libyans are not stupid, illegal immigration is also their problem, but what does poor Malta and the Great EU do to help them? Nothing.
The only way Libya is going to help us, is if we help them.
They need help to secure their Borders and keep it tight as not to allow Border Jumpers (like in America), where the people cannot enter yet do not drown in the sea.
At the same time this helps EU and Malta, yet we do not help them, because of our Selfishness.
How much manpower, money and equipment has the EU and Malta sent to Libya?
Zero, Zilch nothing.
So why the hell do people expect Libya to help us if we're not helping them? pff.
L Galea
Jul 26th 2008, 22:57
@M. Mercieca
The same applies to our supposed EU brothers.
a. cassar
Jul 26th 2008, 21:06
@ M.Mercieca The'unlimited' Libyan aid that you mentioned fizzled out after the closure of the British base in Malta. that's when we eliminated the thorn in gaddafi's behind. after that we were prevented from drilling for oil (remember the Saipem II incident where our 'brothers' sent a warship to stop us from drilling?) Libya has no friends. it only has oil with which to blackmail and hold hostage other natons (see the latest incident with Switzerland) you said it youself that libya's pipeline influences the EU's economy. if the EU needs millions of african workers all it has to do is send aeroplanes and fly them directly to where they are needed. they don't have to pass through malta. No country the size of Malta can deal with such a huge influx of migrants over such a short period be they legal or illegal. this is not xenophobia it's a fact. finally you have accused anyone who doesn't agree with you of racism thereby closing the door on any kind of criticsm.
Leonard Gauci
Jul 26th 2008, 19:05
Reminds me of the letters I used to write to Father Christmas. Actually those worked. Who knows?
M. Mercieca
Jul 26th 2008, 18:09
@ Anthony Formosa
Well said. Many peoples are not aware of the fact that, the Maltese economy was at ZERO growth rates during late 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s. We almost had no economy. Where was our European brothers? The first big make-over to our economy was because of the unlimited financial aid we had from Libya (especially during the sanction period). Young peoples may not understand or remember these facts, but the government does.
Our EU ‘brothers’ failed us many times over the immigrant’s issue. But we prefer to blame Libya as we can’t point a finger at our EU ‘brothers’. (Here we have inferiority complex that still unsolved, even after being an EU member).
What every body should know is that EU needs:
1- Immigrants from Africa by millions.
2- Why should Libya serve as a safety-valve for the EU?
3 - The Libyan’s oil pipes are long enough to influence the whole EU economy.
4- Our problem is racism not the immigrants (legal or illegal, they aren’t welcomed as long as they are black or of different creed). Many peoples may rebut my view, but they only do so to cover-up racism sentiments.
Alex Ellul
Jul 26th 2008, 15:27
@Said: Libya has just stopped shipping oil to Switzerland because Gaddafi's son and wife were accused of violence in the Swiss republic. In the alpine republic, the law is appilcable to all. Is this the way Libya does things? If libya wants to blackmail us with its black oil so be it, but then we will have to treat Libya accordingly. The Libyan mafia is making millions of dollars from illegal immigration while causing innumerable victims, men, woman and children drowning in the mediterranean sea. Shame on the Libyan authorites and all those who appease it for oil.
Denis Catania
Jul 26th 2008, 15:19
Fran S Said, they can keep their oil and their illegal immigrants. How about sending no oil and send them legally , so we know who they are sending. So we know if these immigrants have good conduct or not. And a limit should be set on how many legal immigrants we can accept.
L Galea
Jul 26th 2008, 12:34
With brothers like these who needs enemies?
Joanne Micallef
Jul 26th 2008, 12:15
I disagree with Mr Said's opinion, Libya has no brothers as no brother would only selfishly think of themselves and solely at what they can gain from their sibling’s misery.
Besides, I hardly think that Gaddafi after the hate campaign from the PN throughout the past years would ever consider our Prime Minister and our President as his brothers.
Like I have said many times before, every country has to take care of its own, unfortunately our goverment does not seem to agree with this, and therefore unless we take our protest to the streets the Maltese will loose their country in 10/15 years time. This is a reality, no matter what the usual do gooders try to make us believe.
v.pulis
Jul 26th 2008, 11:54
Mr. Said your suggestion would make legitimate what is not. we do not need money. if I'm not mistaken fuel for the patrol boats is paid for by Frontex but that's not the issue. libya has its reasons but they are the wrong ones and we do not want to be accomplices. what we want from Libya is to stop these ILLEGAL migrants from leaving for our shores. To treat them as human beings and not to use them for its own designs. Libyans have never been our friends much less brothers. There was a time when they considered Malta as part of their territory. We are still embroiled in a long drawn out dispute over oil exploration. what you are suggesing is a capitulation of our rights. We are not bought with oil or money.
Anthony Formosa
Jul 26th 2008, 11:54
Mr. Said,
Why should we beg for Libya’s charity when we make part of EU, the same EU that gives millions of dollars in funds to help those countries in need? Where are the rest of the EU countries to help us? Where are those who before accession they told the people that now we make part of European block and we share everything. Everyone left us floating in the middle of the Mediterranean and ONLY we can solve the problem, by blocking any legislation to the EU,and not bending for all measures.
@ J.Farrugia,
Libya was and remain our best friends of the Maltese people, Libya has been taking illegal immigrants for many years and nobody gave a damn about the conflicts in Africa the solve the influx of immigration to North Africa, Europe, the West and the Vatican never looked into the situation seriously to help these people, after so many years children are still dieing, of hunger, weapons are still being exported from developed countries, people are still being shot and killed by the same weapons, So what EU expects? What Malta expects? Free Oil from Libya, it’s too late for that.
J. Schembri
Jul 26th 2008, 11:46
Libya happens to be our neighbour , and in March 1979 we removed a thorn from their side , by October of the same year they did not leave us explore for oil on the continental shelf. Now they are seeing the EU as an other thorn on their side, so they 'let' illegal immigrants leave their shores to Europe.In the 70's & 80's it was bombing and now it is 'a silent invasion to distabilise Europe'.
I ,for one, do not consider my neighbours who helped me when it suited them as brothers. Brothers help each other disinterestedly .
E. Azzopardi
Jul 26th 2008, 11:42
I too object by saying that the Libyans are out brothers. Brothers do not behave like that. They do not care about Malta although we have many of them working here. They do not appreciate this either. So please stop licking!!! Our politicians know what has to be done to solve the problem. Period. If the Libyans and the EU do not want to help, as is apparent until know we should proceed ourselves. Bla Bla alone does not solve problems!!!!
john fenech
Jul 26th 2008, 11:27
Money will be alright but only as a short term policy. Or may be as a friendly gesture, agreement to search for oil without the assistance of gunboats! What is expected from our neighbour is to keep or repatriate those immigrants who were employed by the Libyan companies before the embargo was lifted. Now a day these immigrants are unemployed, since the foreign companies prefer employees of their choice. Therefore Libya was faced with about 1.5 Million unwanted immigrants.
In the mean time the right and responsible thing to do is first, to accept all immigrants back, or assist to relocate and secondly, keep the remaining immigrants from being a nuisance to other countries!
Sandro Pace
Jul 26th 2008, 10:03
Some people still think that it is all about the money. For foreigners, it may not have any value (as we are seeing), but for us, our country is worth more than the oil reserves in the world put together, and it is not going to be priced by barrel of oils, or euros.
What reasons must Libya have not to stop them, which Tunis or Egypt (both law observant countries, also with vast boarders) does not have??
John Azzopardi
Jul 26th 2008, 10:02
@Frans Said. Get real!! So in your books it is the financial costs that matter? Not the human tragedy that these people are embroiled in and the criminals who are exploiting them! In your view it would be acceptable as long as we get paid! Incredible!
J Farrugia
Jul 26th 2008, 09:26
mr Said please speak for yourself and not on our behalf. We do not consider the Lbyans as our friends or brothers. They do not even let us explore for oil in our own territorial waters let alone take care of illegal immigration. As Dom Mintoff once said they are doing things that not even our worst enemies have done to us. And we are a tiny island.